Turpentine-cup.



G. C. PRINGLE.; TURPNTINE CUP.

APPLICATION 111131) 111111.10, 1909.

963,065., Patented July 5,1910

v lum H \\\1lm1m///l///////////////// S GEORGE C. PRING-LE, OF FLDRALA,MISSISSIPPI.

TURPENTINE-CUP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented T1115r 5, 1910.

Application led April 10, 1909. Serial No. 489,078.

To all whom 'it may concern.'

Be it known that l, GEORGE C. PRINGLE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Florala, in thecounty of Jackson and State of Mississippi,have invented a new and useful Turpentine-Cup, of which the following isa specification.

This invention has reference to improvements in turpentine cups and itsprincipal object is to provide a cup or receptacle for the crudeturpentine as it flows from the tree which cup shall be of largecapacity but of minimum vertical height and shall be readily attachableto and detachable from the tree and when on the tree shall bepractically free from any liability of displacement especially byanimals.

The common system of gathering turpentine is to cut into the base of thetree a comparatively wide and deep cavity ordinarily called a box andthen the 'tree above the box is scariiied to open up the resin ducts inthe sap wood and the resin then exudes and flows down the scarifiedportion of the tree and ultimately in'ds its way into the box where itaccumulates to be later dipped out and ultimately taken to thedistillery for further treatment. This method of gathering the crudeturpentine is not only wasteful but in many instances is destructive tothe trees, many trees being killed either from disease attacking thetree through the deep wound caused by the formation ofthe box or thetrees are easily blown over by storms because of the weakening of thetree trunk due to the deep cutting in the formation of the box.Furthermore, the box being always at a xed point in a tree, subsequentflows of resin must pass over a greater expanse of wood before reachingthe box since the point from which the fresh resin exudes becomes moreand more removed fromthe box because of the higher scaritication of thetree. The result of this is that each succeeding year there is agreatersurface for the evaporation of the spirits of turpentine while more ofthe resin sticks to the tree and the quantity reaching the box iscorrespondingly lessened. Moreover atmospheric action on the resin soaects the wood that on the following year the resin flowing over suchwood absorbs much coloring matter and there is therefore a deteriorationof the quality of the resin due to both the action of light and air andthe coloring matter and the resultant resins are dark colored which verymaterially affects the price. The box method of gathering turpentinealso so aifects the trees as to cause a reduction in their output whilethe timber value of the trees is greatly reduced from the destructiveeffects of fires and of rotting due to the accumulation of water in theboxes. By the present invention all these undesirable effects of thecustomary mode of gathering crude turpentine are entirely avoided whilethe initial operation may, because of the small height and greatcapacity of the cups constructed in accordance with the presentinvention, be started very low on the tree.

The cup constructed in accordance with the present invention has theside or face designed to be adjacent to the tree curved into generalconformity with the tree, and if desired the opposite face of the cupmay be curved likewise and be in parallel relation at the top to thefirst or tree side. The sides and ends of the cup, which latter may bematerially longer than it is wide, all slope toward the bottom in thepreferred form of the cup, although for reasons which will hereinafterappear, the important point is that the tree side of the cup shouldslope away from the tree, considering the upper edge or rim of the cupas substantially parallel with the tree. Furthermore, the bottom of thecup is specially shaped for engagement with fastening devices as willmore fully hereinafter appear.

The invention will however be best understood from a consideration ofthe following detail description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of this speciiication, in whichdrawings,

Figure l is an elevation of a portion of a t-ree showing the improvedgathering means applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a vertical central section ofthe structure shown in Fig. l, the tree being shown conventionally orschematically, and but one cup support being shown. Fig. 3 is aperspective view of the cup. Fig. 4 is a cross section thereof. Fig. 5is a top plan view of the cup. Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view of the same.

Referring to the drawings there is illustrated a portion of a treedesignated by the .numeral l. Assuming the tree to be a fresh tree, cutsare made through the bark and into the sap wood after the customarymanner of cornering and below these cuts two substantially iiat faces 22 are produced and at a short distance below the original cuts other'cuts or kerfs 3-3 are produced slanting slightly upward as they enterthe wood of the tree and directed slightly downward toward a commonmeeting point where the two cuts mei'ge one into the other. Above theinitial cuts the tree is scarified as in the ordinary process but thisis not indicated in the drawings.

Below the kerfs 3 one or more nails 5 or like devices, are driven intothe tree so that the nails project substantially horizontally. Thesenails may be ordinary wire nails of suitable size and while only one isshown it will be understood that two or more nails or the like, may beused.

The kerfs 3 are for the purpose of receiving an apron 6 consisting oftwo sheets preferably though not necessarily wider at one end than theother, and having one edge designed to be inserted in the kerf 3, therebeing provided an apron for each tree.

When the resin is flowing it will ultimately meet the apron 6 and bediverted by the latter away from the tree toward the outer edge of saidapron.

The cup or receptacle used in connection with the present invention isdesignated by the reference numeral 12. This cup is shown as having twoside walls 13-11 curved longitudinally and joined by end walls 15. Thelongitudinal curvature of the cup is designed to approach that of thecircumferential curvature of a tree, but since for manufacturing reasonsthe cups should be all of the same curvature, the curvature of the cupswill be only approximately that of the trees, but for practical purposesthis is sutiicient.

As will hereinafter appear it is the curvature of the wall 13, whichwall, when the cup is in place, is adjacent to the tree, that isimportant. Therefore, while the showing of the cup is that the walls 13and 14 so far as their upper and lower edges are concerned, are inparallel relation, it will be understood that the wall 14, may if sodesired, be straight. it is preferred however that the walls 13 and 14should approach each other toward the bottom of the cup and also thatthe walls 15 should approach each other toward the bottom of the cup. Itis moreover important, for reasons which will here- ;inafter appear thatthe wall 13 should slant toward the wall 14 from the top of the cuptoward the bottom thereof and this slant should be quite marked and isin excess of the slant of the wall 14 toward the bottom of the cup evenwhen the said wall 1li is made jdesigned to be adjacent to the tree,slants toward the bottom of the cup.

On the outer surface of the bottom of the cup there are formed a numberof parallel ridges 17, these ridges being substantially straight andlongitudinal to the cup even when the cup as a whole is curved. Theseridges may be of any suitable shape in cross section but preferably areformed withl slanting sides toward the cup side 13 and with abruptshoulders toward the cup side 14. The purpose of these ridges is toengage the head of the nail 5 when the cup rests thereon.

Then the cup is placed in position beneath the apron 6 the upper edge ofthe wall 13 engages under the apron and the bottom of the cup engagesthe head of the nail 5 by some one of the ridges 17. Because of theslant of the wall 13 away from the tree the cap 12 may be tippedslightly away from the tree and be locked firmly between the apron G andthe nail or nails 5, the slight spring or give of the apron facilitatingthis adjustment. l/Vhen the cup is slanted away from the tree then thecurved upper edge of the wall 13 will be in close relation alongsubstantially its whole length with the under surface of the apron, ifthe latter be slanted only slightly. It is because of the close relationof the upper edge of the wall 13 of the elongated cup 12 with the undersurface'of the apron 6 that the cup may be safely held by a single nail,as indicated, since the apron 6 will prevent any material rocking of thecup 12 on such single nail. There the apron 6 does not approach theupper edge of the wall 13 sufficiently close then or at any time, twonails may be used.

The slanting wall 13 besides permitting a tipping of the cup 12 to makeit fit tightly between the under surface of the apron 6 and thesupporting nail or nails 5 also serves another important function. Thebases of the trees curve outwardly toward the ground and with the cupshaped as shown in the drawings, it may be set substantially horizontalclose the base of the tree and still leave suflicient clearance betweenthe base of the tree and the walls 13 to permit the location of the cupvery close to the ground. By elongating the cup in the direction of thecircumference of the tree the cup may be made quite shallow and still beof sufficiently large capacity. This also permits the close approach ofthe cup to the ground.

The cup may be made of unglazed earthen ware and by having the front andrear walls parallel at the top and bottom and all the walls slopingtoward the bottom, dipping of the accumulated resin from the cups isfacilitated. The ridges 17 may be replaced by any other type ofroughening of the bottom so as to engage the nail heads.

The apron may be made of galvanized iron or other metal which isweather-proof and inert to the resin or gum and even brous material suchas glazed cardboard suitably Aweather-proofed may be used. rIhinpressboard will be found useful for this purpose because of itsresistance to weather conditions and the ease with which it may be cutand bent into the required shape. Furthermore pressboard is tough andstrong.

What is claimed is l. A means for gathering crude turpentine, comprisinga cup having its bottom formed with a plurality of locking meansprogressing from the tree side of the cup toward the outer side thereof,a turpentine directing apron adapted to be inserted in and project froma tree, and upholding means for the cup coacting with the locking meanson the bottom of the cup to hold the upper edge of the tree side of thecup firmly against the under face of the apron.

2. A means for collecting crude turpentine from trees comprising alaterally eX- tending apron projecting from the tree when in operativeposition, a cup for receiving the crude turpentine from the apron, saidcup being longer than wide and curved in the direction of its lengthwith the tree side sloping toward the bottom of the cup and with thebottom of the cup having its under surface provided with locking means,and a support for the cup adapted to coact with the locking means on thebottom of the cup and uphold the latter with the edge on the tree sidein looking engagement with the under side of the apron.

3. A collecting cup for gathering crude turpentine, said cup beinglonger than wide and provided on the bottom with a series of parallelridges disposed lengthwise of the cup for engaging upholding means.

4. A collecting cup for gathering crude turpentine, said cup beinglonger than Wide and provided on the under surface of the bottom with aseries of parallel ridges longitudinal of the cup and each having' oneedge abrupt and the other edge slanting.

5. A collecting cup for gathering crude turpentine, said cup beinglonger than wide and curved in the direction of its length to partiallyembrace the tree, the under surface of the bottom of the cup beingprovided with longitudinally disposed straight ridges for upholdingmeans.

6. Ameans for collecting crude turpentine comprising a laterallyextending apron projecting from the tree in a downward direction, alaterally extended cup for receiving crude turpentine from the apron,and a support for the cup engaging the bottom of the latter and lockingthe upper edge of the cup against the under side of the apron, thebottom of the cup being provided with locking means co-acting with thesupport for preventing' the bottom of the cup from moving away from thetree.

7. A means for collecting crude turpentine from trees comprising alaterally eX- tended apron projecting' from the tree and disposedsubstantially horizontal, an elongated cup for receiving the crudeturpentine from the tree and having the upper edge of the tree sideadapted to engage under the apron, the said cup having the under surfaceof the bottom provided with longitudinally disposed ridges, and asupport for the cup engaging the ridges on the bottom thereof andco-acting therewith to lock the upper edge of the cup against the underside of the apron.

8. A means for collecting crude turpentine from trees comprising alaterally eX- tended apron projecting from the tree, a cup for receivingthe crude turpentine from the apron, said cup being longer than wide andcurved in the direction of its length with the tree side sloping towardthe bottom of the cup and with the bottom of the cup having its undersurface formed with longitudinally disposed ridges, and a support forthe cup adapted to engage the ridges in locking relation therewith andupholding the cup with the edge on the tree side in locking engagementwith the under side of the apron.

9. A means for collecting crude turpentine from trees comprising alaterally eX- tended apron projecting from the tree, a cup for receivingthe crude turpentine from the apron, said cup being longer than wide andcurved in the direction of its length with the upper portion of the treeside shaped to rest against the tree in substantially parallel relationtherewith and below such upper portion sloping away from the tree towardthe bottom of the cup, and the bottom of the cup being provided with aseries of ridges disposed at successively greater distances from thetree side of the cup, and a support for the cup en 'aging the lockingmembers on the bottom tiereof and sustaining the cup with the upper edgeof the tree side against the under side of the apron.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE C. PRINGLE. Witnesses L. H. DAHY, F. WV. ELMER, J r.

